Inland sea cuts off Birdsville

An inland sea is still isolating Birdsville in Queensland's far south-west and it could be a few weeks yet before roads reopen.

The Diamantina Shire Council says renewed rises in the Eyre Creek at Bedourie, north of Birdsville, are also expected to cut access to that town later in the week due to recent rain in the upper part of the Georgina catchment.

Almost all roads in the shire are closed, including the Birdsville Track.

Council chief executive officer Scott Mason says locals are amazed at the sight of so much water.

"We do get a lot of people that come and go and for the new people in town ... I think they are amazed - they just can't believe that this volume of water can be flowing past your front door," he said.

"People are keen to get back to normal and move around but overall we've got to be happy with the long-term impact it's going to have on tourism and grazing.

"Normally Birdsville would be flourishing with tourists at the moment and Bedourie would be benefiting from some of the spin-off tourism as well.

"We are a bit worried but we are optimistic that as soon as the roads open, people will come.

"It is difficult - we understand that people plan their holidays and things like that but we are optimistic that we will still get those big numbers for this year if we can get people in."